Defensive coordinators are 3 of first 5 head coaching hires. Could Steelers follow the trend?
Jesse Minter, Robert Saleh and Jeff Hafley earned their head coaching opportunities on the defensive side of the ball.
Three of the five new hires this coaching cycle are former defensive coordinators. There are five openings still remaining and a few more defensive coaches could get a job, including Sean McDermott, Brian Flores and Vance Joseph.
Maybe the trend is shifting.
NFL teams have often sought offensive coaches in recent years. The success of guys like Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur inspired organizations to seek the rising offensive coordinators. Liam Coen and Ben Johnson stepped in and led their teams to division titles in their first season as head coaches after leading offenses.
Many teams will continue to prioritize an offensive coach to help develop a franchise quarterback. But finding the best candidate is important, and pairing a defensive-minded head coach with the right offensive coordinator can be the right formula, too.
The Patriots hired Mike Vrabel, a former linebacker, last year. He brought Josh McDaniels back to New England to run the offense. They went from worst to first in the AFC East and are playing the Denver Broncos on Sunday in the AFC championship game.
The Seahawks hired Mike Macdonald, a former defensive coordinator with the Ravens, two years ago. He brought in Klint Kubiak to coach the offense and Seattle faces McVay and the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC championship game.
Minter served as the Chargers defensive coordinator the past two seasons before the Baltimore Ravens hired him on Thursday to replace John Harbaugh, who had given him his first opportunity as an NFL assistant.
Hafley, who was hired by the Miami Dolphins, was Green Bay’s defensive coordinator the last two seasons after coaching Boston College.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, who hired a relative unknown defensive coach in Mike Tomlin 19 years ago, have had confirmed interviews with defensive coordinators Anthony Weaver (Miami), Brian Flores (Minnesota), Chris Shula (L.A. Rams), Ejiro Evero (Carolina), Minter and Hafley. They have also interviewed offensive coaches Klay Kubiak (San Francisco) and Nate Scheelhaase (Rams) and former head coach Mike McCarthy.
Saleh, who returned to the 49ers for a season after being the head coach of the New York Jets, was hired by the Tennessee Titans.
The New York Giants hired Harbaugh, who was a special teams coach two decades ago before spending 18 seasons as Baltimore’s head coach.
The Atlanta Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski, a two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year in Cleveland and former offensive coordinator.
The Bills, Steelers, Raiders, Cardinals and Browns are still seeking a coach. They have options and interviewed coaches with offensive and defensive backgrounds.
